X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis and prediction of induced radioactivity components for high-energy electron accelerator

Abstract

The objective of this research was to predict the induced activation in high-energy particle accelerator components to determine the isotope inventories and remanent dose rates for considering the replacement materials. The long-lived radionuclides produced by nuclear reactions caused biological health effects to human as well as environmental impacts. The bremsstrahlung photon beam by the high-energy electron accelerator produced the radioactive nuclei from direct interactions or indirect interactions. The study highlighted the determination of chemical compositions and the estimation of induced activation in particle accelerator components. The elemental compositions of materials were investigated by the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technique. The heavy metal elements were detected with different percentages, i.e., Zr, Zn, Ti, Pb, Ni, Mn, Fe and Cu. To calculate the induced activation in the materials, the FLUKA simulation was performed. The 1.2 GeV high-energy electron beam had been defined to irradiate the materials for this simulation. The daughter nuclei were obtained, and their decay followed. The estimation of the residual dose rate in activated materials after various cooling times from the end of the irradiation was presented.